Peanut harvesting machine



Dec. 9, 1952 t c, DEAL 2,620,616

PEANUT HARVESTING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 TTOR NEYS D. C. DEAL PEANUT HARVESTING MACHINE Dec. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1948 Q &

INVENTOR. DAN/2 a. 05/14 WWW 4m A77'0E/VEY6'.

Dec. 9, 1952 D, DEAL 2,620,616

PEANUT HARVESTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 23, 1948 FIG. 4.

1N VEN TOR.

/ 4 OA'IV/EL c. 05.44

Patented Dec. 9, 19 52 UNITED STATES OFFICE ZCIaims. (01. 56-351) This invention relates to agricultural nachines, and more particularly-to a machine for harvestin peanuts.

A main object of the inventionis to provide a novel and improved peanut harvesting machine which is simple in construction, easy to operate and which automaticallyplows-up the peanut vines, shakes the vines free of dirt and deposits the vines laterally of the path of movementof the machine, where the vines are-e gpcsed for drying prior to final collection thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved peanut digging gnachine which greatly reducesthe amount of human labor involved in harvesting peanuts, which is very rugged in construction, and which -:n ay be readily transported from place-toplace as required.

Further objects and-advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and irom the accompanying drawings, wherein:

.Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a peanut digging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a topplanview of the peanut digging machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse verticalcross-sectional view taken on line 33v-.of-Figure 1.

lr 'ig ure 4 is an enlarged oss-sectional. detail view taken on line4-,-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line 5 of-Figure l. V

Figure 6 is an enlarged :iragmentary detail view in side elevationrof the ,clutchlever and adjacent parts, as employed in vthe machineof Figure 1.

Figure I .is a fragmentary bottom .detail .view of'the endof the clutchshaft and. partsassociated therewith, asemployed in. the machine of Figure l.

Referring to .the. drawings, H designates the frame .of the machine, asaid frame. comprising side bar members 112, :l.2..rigidly connected by suitable transverse-bar members such as shown at 13. .Frame H includes theyconvergent forwardbar members .16, 1A whichterminate in opposing. parallel .portions -.l 5,. l5ubetween which is secured the forwardly projecting hitch bar it. Connecting theconvergentbar members [4, H5 is a-transverse loarmember l-I. Adjustably clamped to the intermediate portion-f said barmember i? by a I U.bolt l8 isaverticalpost member I 9 having at its lowerend spaced parallel vertical, arms 26: between which --is- -3 ournalled the .front wheel 2 l whichnormally .supportsthe .front end of the machine on .the ground. Journalled to the underside of theirame Il adjacent the rear portion thereof by suitable bearing brackets "is a drive shaft or transverse -axle 22 on one end of whichis rotatively mounted a vfirst rear wheel 23L 'Designatedlat,ziisthe second rear wheel. Wheel .M iSTSecuredIto the .fiange25 of ahub member 2.3 rotatably' .inounted on a'x'le 1 22. .i-Iub member 2'6 includes angannunr housing 2] provided with an inner wall member-12.8; Securedto shaft .2z.withinjthe housing 21 isa ratchet disc 29. Pivotally -securedlto wall member j28is 'a pan/1.3.0 biased into engagement with ratchetjdisc 25 by a leaf spring -3ll secured to wall member 23. 'When the machineis. moved,forwardly, rotation of theQground-engagingfrear wheel 24'. is transmitted to axle 22by theinterlo'cking engagement of pawl 30 withthe-teeth of ratchet wheel 29. When ,the machine is moved rearwardly, .the pawl 38 slips around the ratchet wheel 29 and Wheel 2.4 rotates without transmitting torque to axle-22.

Secured to-axle22 adjacent the housine2'i is a firstgear 32.

Rigidly secured to the rear, ends of said .bars 12, I2 are upwardly extending inclined angle bars 35,. 35; Designated at34, .34 are parallel rearwardly and upwardly. inclined angle .bars.se cured at their rear pertions'tothe top ends of angle .bars 35,35 and corinect'edb'y b'rac'ketsBS at their forward ends to the respective sidebars i2, {-2, said forward ends being positionedsub- 'stantially belowthe plane o'f the frame l l. Se-

cured -bars' 34, 4are upstanding side wall m m er 3. +3 de n n 1a co t/F pas a e therebetween. Jourrialled to the forward ends of ar til-13. a transver sha 1. ca r in sprockets 3B, 38, Journalled by suitablebearing b kets '3 o th rear .end. portions .of bars 3s; 3a is a transverse shaitl: cc carrying sprockets 4!, 5| longitudinally aligned .with .the respective sprocketstii, .35. :Engaged with ithe sprockets 38 and :Aiateachsideof the machine are respective sprocket chains 342, 42 connected-by spaced transverse .bar members 43, each bar member beingprovidedgwith spaced spike eleinentsai. Shaftsdll is provided'atiits right end, as viewedinlFigure 3,..with a sprocket then which is engaged an endless linked orsprocket chain @123 whichdrivesshaft do, aswill be subsequently described. It-is tob e noted that the sprocket chains. 52, A2 and .Ithebarsmembers ca constitute anendless conveycn- Referring now-to ii iguree d'i designates a vertical plate memberwhich is pivotally connected 3 at 58a to the side bar [2 at the right side of the frame l I. A vertical bar member 48 rigidly connects said side bar to the inclined angle bar 55 upwardly adjacent thereto. A spring 49 connects plate member 41 to bar member 48 and biases said plate member clockwise, as viewed in Figure 6. Rotatably mounted in plate member 41 is a short coupling transverse shaft 55 which carries at its outer end a second gear which is movable into meshing engagement with gear 32. Shaft as also carries a sprocket 52 which is engaged by the sprocket chain 46. When gear 5| is in mesh with gear, 32, sprocket chain 46 is therefore driven responsive to forward movement of the machine. The chain 45 is maintained taut by a weighted flanged roller 53 carried on an arm 54 pivoted to the adjacent angle bar 34.

Designated at 55 is a hand lever pivoted to a lug 58 carried by bar member 48. Fixed to the hand lever is a wedge bar 58 engageable with the rear edge of the plate member 41 to move said plate member counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 6, responsive to clockwise movement of the lever 55 against the force of spring 49. When the hand lever 55 is elevated from the posit-ion shown in Figure 6, the wedge bar 58 releases plate member 41, whereby spring 49 moves the plate member clockwise and disengages gear 5| from gear 32. In the downwardly rotated position of plate member 41 shown in Figure 6 the gear 5| is in mesh with gear 32. Hand lever 55 is provided with a spring-biased pivoted locking dog 59 engageable with a notched plate 59 carried on the adjacent angle bar 34 to lock the lever 55 in the position shown in Figure 6. Also provided on lever 55 is a pivoted handle 6! connected to dog 59 by a cable 62 for manually disengaging the dog 59 from the notched plate 60.

The pivot member for lever 55 comprises a second transverse coupling shaft 51 extending to the opposite side of the machine. Shaft 51 is j ournalled in lug 56 and is rigidly secured tolever 55 adjacent said lug. At the opposite side of the machine, shaft 51 is journalled in a bracket 51a secured to the underside of the adjacent angle bar 34. Rigidly secured to the end of shaft 5'! is a depending arm 63. Journalled to the end of arm 53 is a second sprocket 64.

J ournalled to the forward portion of frame I l is a transverse driven or crank shaft 55 provided with spaced opposing crank yokes 65. J ournalled to each crank yoke at the crank bearing 6'! thereof is an upstanding rake bar 68. The upper portions of the rake bars 68 pass slidably through spaced slots 69 formed in a transverse channel bar secured by brackets ii in a stationary elevated position above frame I I. The lower ends of the rake bars 68 are pointed, as shown at E2, and are located forwardly adjacent the end of the belt conveyor defined by the sprocket chains 52, t2 and the toothed transverse bars 43. The end of crank shaft 65 carries a sprocket l3 longitudinally aligned with sprocket 64. Also longitudinally aligned with said sprockets is a sprocket '54 secured to shaft 22 adjacent wheel 23. A second endless drive or sprocket chain engages over sprockets l3 and 64, the upper run thereof being supported out of engagement with sprocket M by a channelled guide 16 rigidly secured to the frame H. The lower run of chain 75 engages with sprocket 14 only when the chain is tightened. This occurs only when hand lever 55 is in the depressed position shown in Figure 6. When said hand lever is moved clockwise to a position wherein gears 51 and 32 are disengaged, arm 53 is rotated downwardly thereby moving sprocket 64 downwardly, which relaxes chain 15 so that its lower run drops out of mesh with the sprocket 74. In the gear-engaging position of hand lever however, chain i5 meshes with sprocket 14, whereby the crank shaft is driven by said chain.

Secured to the forward end of frame 5 l are the respective plow members 17 and 78, said plow members converging rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2. Flow member l"! comprises a relatively long plowshare element connected to frame H by a conventional beam 79 and being provided with spaced rearwardly and upwardly inclined rod elements 80 terminating adjacent the forward end of the belt conveyor defined by chains 42, 42 and transverse toothed bars 43. Plow member 18 comprises a relatively short plowshare element connected to frame II by a beam 8! and being also provided with rearwardly and upwardly inclined spaced rod members 82.

The chain members 42, 42 extend over a plurality of toothed vibrator sprockets 83 rotatively secured to the angle bars 34, 34, the teeth of the sprockets 83 being spaced differently from the link pins of the chains so that movement of the chains over said sprockets 83 produces vibration of the chains.

Secured to the rear end of frame 4 i below the end of the belt conveyor defined by the chains 52, 52 and toothed bars 33 is a laterally directed sheet metal chute member 85 which receives the material from said conveyor and deiects it laterally, at the same time causing the material to turn over so that its roots will be exposed for drying when it is deposited on the ground.

In operation, the plow members H and 18 penetrate the soil as the machine is moved forward di ging up the peanut vines. The crankshaft 55 oscillates the rake bars 58, the pointed tips '52 thereof engaging the vines and thrusting them rearwardly onto the spaced bars 88 and 52. The vines then are forced onto the chain belt conveyor and are engaged by the spikes it whereby said vines are moved upwardly on the conveyor. During the course of this upward and rearward movement the vines undergo a substantial amount of vibration, shaking all loose soil therefrom. When the vines reach the end of the conveyor they are deposited on the chute member 85 and deflected laterally onto the ground, being at the same time turned upwardly, for drying, as above described.

To uncouple the gears 32 and 55, hand lever 55 is moved upwardly from the position of Figure 6, allowing spring 49 to rotate plate member 41 clockwise. At the same time shaft 5? rotates arm 53 downwardly to slacken chain 15, so that said chain unmeshes from sprocket I i, terminating the rotation of crank shaft 65.

A conventional tractor may be employed to haul the machine. The end of the tractor drawbar is shown at 85. Secured to the drawbar by a bolt 55 is a hitch device comprising a bottom bracket bar 3? and an upper bracket bar 53 of substantial height terminating in a rearwardly extending arm 85. Arm 89 is connected to bottom bracket bar 51 by a vertical brace bar and by a pair of opposing spaced vertical channel bars 5%, 9i. I-Zitch bar [5 of the harvesting machine extends between channel bars 91, 9| and is retained therein by transverse pins 52, 92 passing through bar 15 forwardly and rearwardly of the channel bars. Adjacent the rearward pin 92 an upstanding apertured lug 93 projects from hitch bar I6. Pivoted between the top ends of channel bars 9!, Si is a semi-circular pulley member 94 having a grooved periphery. A hand lever 95 projects upwardly from the top edge of pulley member 94. Connecting the right end of pulley member 94, as viewed in Figure 1, with the lug 93 is a cable 93. When lever 95 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in Figure 1, cable 96 is wound on pulley 94, raising the hitch bar 16, and thereby elevating the forward portion of the harvesting machine to an inoperative position. The channel bars 9|, 91 are formed with registering apertures 91 through which a pin may be passed to support hitch bar 16 is an elevated position. This enables the machine to be hauled from place to place with the plow members 1'1 and 18 elevated sufficiently so as to avoid interference with the ground. When the machine is to be operated the retaining pin is removed from the apertures 91, whereby the forward position of the machine may be lowered to the ground.

As shown in Figure 2, arm 89 has a laterally offset rearward extension 98 formed with a slot 99. Projecting slidably through slot 99 is an upstanding guide bar I00 secured to transverse brace bar 11 and serving to maintain correct alignment of the machine with the tractor-carried hitch structure. A bolt l0l passing transversely through the top end of bar I00 limits downward movement of bar I00 with respect to extension 98.

\Vhile a specific embodiment of a peanut harvesting machine has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a peanut harvesting machine including a frame, a drive shaft on said frame, a driven shaft on said frame spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to carry rake elements, an endless conveyor arranged longitudinally of said frame contiguous to one end thereof and supported thereon, an endless linked drive chain positioned longitudinally of and operatively connected to said conveyor, a drive mechanism operatively connecting said drive chain and said driven shaft to said drive shaft, said mechanism comprising a first gear carried by said drive shaft, an upstanding plate member arranged on one side of said frame and connected to said frame for clockwise and counterclockwise movement, a spring operatively connected to said plate member for biasing the latter clockwise, a coupling shaft spaced from said drive shaft and rotatably journaled in said plate, a second gear on said coupling shaft and engageable with said first gear, a sprocket on said coupling shaft and engageable with said drive chain, a second coupling shaft spaced from said first coupling shaft and rotatably supported in said frame,-a hand lever having one end connected to said second coupling shaft for rotation therein, a wedge bar fixed to said hand lever and engageable with said upstanding plate member to move the latter counterclockwise responsive to clockwise movement of said lever against the action of said spring and releasable from said upstanding plate member to move the latter clockwise responsive to counterclockwise movement of said lever under th action of said spring, a second endless drive chain positioned longitudinally of and on the other side of said frame and connected to said driven shaft, and a second sprocket carried by said second coupling shaft and movable into driving engagement with said second drive chain upon clockwise movement of said lever.

'2. In a peanut harvesting machine including a frame, a drive shaft on said frame, a driven shaft on said frame spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to carry rake elements, an endless conveyor arranged longitudinally of said frame contiguous to one end thereof and supported thereon, an endless linked drive chain positioned longitudinally of and operatively connected to said conveyor, 9. drive mechanism operatively connecting said drive chain and said driven shaft to said drive shaft, said mechanism comprising a first gear carried by said drive shaft, an upstanding plate member arranged on one side of said frame and connected to said frame for clockwise and counterclockwise movement, a coupling shaft spaced from said drive shaft and rotatably journaled in said plate member, a second gear on said coupling shaft and engageable with said first gear, a sprocket on said coupling shaft and engageable with said drive chain, a second coupling shaft spaced from said first coupling shaft and rotatably supported in said frame, a hand lever having one end connected to said second coupling shaft for rotation therein, a wedge bar fixed to said hand lever and engageable with said upstanding plate member to move the latter counterclockwise responsive to clockwise movement of said lever against the action of said spring and releasable from said upstanding plate member to move the latter clockwise responsive to counterclockwise movement of said lever under the action of said spring, a second endless drive chain positioned longitudinally of and on the other side of said frame and connected to said driven shaft, a second sprocket carried by said second coupling shaft and movable into driving engagement with said second drive chain upon clockwise movement of said lever, and a hand actua'ble spring biased dog on said lever and engageable with a notched bar on said frame upon clockwise movement of said lever for locking the latter in its clockwise movement position.

DANIEL C. DEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 57,242 Woodbridge Aug. 14, 1866 320,687 Price June 23, 1885 451,329 Larson Apr. 28, 1891 669,908 Williams Mar. 12, 1901 743,489 reen Nov. 10, 1903 961,757 Dain June 21, 1910 1,131,419 Rice Mar. 9, 1915 1,162,137 Clark Nov. 30, 1915 1,321,326 Percivall Nov. 11, 1919 1,558,070 Wirsching Oct. 20, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 208,668 Germany Apr. 3, 1909 

